It’s time for Inside the Hall’s player-by-player breakdown of the 2012-2013 Indiana Hoosiers. Today: Will Sheehey.

Key stats: 8.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 55.0 eFG%, 38.3 3P%, 6.6 OR%

As Will Sheehey enters his junior season, the offseason returns have been favorable.

During an adidas Nations broadcast in early August, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Bill Bayno — who worked with the college counselors — was high on the Florida native’s athleticism, saying: “I had no idea he could do the things he could do.” And as Tom Crean addressed the Indiana student body in early September, he noted Sheehey and Cody Zeller as “neck-and-neck” for the most improved players on the team. Crean also talked about Sheehey’s elite physical condition in which he lasted an IU record 14:06 during a VO2 treadmill test.

Despite a left ankle injury that kept him out of the lineup for the first four Big Ten games and slowed him for a while upon return, Sheehey’s sophomore season was a breakout campaign. He improved in pretty much every way, hit arguably the second biggest shot of the season against VCU to send the Hoosiers to the Sweet Sixteen and started 11 games.

But if Sheehey’s able to deliver on the offseason praise when the ball tips on the 2012-13 season, he may be in line for another strong leap in his game and more appearances in the starting lineup. Sheehey represents the embarrassment of riches the Hoosiers on offense. He won’t draw the attention of Zeller. And, at times, may not have the ball in his hands as much as Yogi Ferrell, Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford or Victor Oladipo. There’s only going to be so many looks each game. But it’s Sheehey’s versatility that should still make him a factor. He connected on 38.3% of his 3-point attempts last season. He’s a great complement on the break with his ability to stop and pop a mid-range jumper with ease. Sheehey is also a smart player in the half court, cutting well and picking his spots. And his athleticism allows him to do some impressive things at the rim as well. (Though, his free throw percentage of a year ago (70.4), could stand some improvement.)

Yet, just what Sheehey shows on the defensive end of the court may be the key to how much action he ultimately sees this season. It’s been repeated time and again here, but Indiana will stand a better chance of going deeper if its defense becomes as elite as its offense projects to be. Sheehey made strides in this department last season. He has the length, size and athleticism to become a strong perimeter defender. No. 0 also has an edge and junkyard dog mentality to his court presence, another feather in his cap should he harness it on D.

Bottom Line: Beyond the talent Sheehey brings to both sides of the ball, he also may to play another important role this season: Enforcer. There figure to be a few teams that may try and get overly physical or chippy with the Hoosiers in an effort to slow them down. Don’t be surprised if it’s Sheehey stepping up to the plate and jawing right back in defense of his teammates. He’s not a guy that backs down.

Quotable: “I’m a bad dude when it comes to that stuff. There’s nobody, I think, in the country that can run as far and as long as I can. I have the all-time record, easily. Jordan had it before I did, but that’s not going to happen.” — Sheehey on his VO2 treadmill test.

wait… Will is first or second most improved? I’m honestly curious to see where… he always seemed to have a pretty solid all-around game. He’ll be good for us this year; if he gets lost in the shuffle and the other team forgets to guard him with anyone worthwhile, he’ll light them up. We’ve seen it enough by now to almost expect it.

g_bo

Cant express how happy I am with him and Vic’s recruiting class. They brought with them a mentality that absolutely changed the basketball program. Maybe it had to do with the lack of respect they got from the ranking websites. Whatever it was these two came into Bloomington and completely changed the team attitude. Plus seeing where we were when they got here to where we are now, you gotta love it!

http://twitter.com/btown1056 brian workman

I look for Sheehey to be our top scorer this year. He is as athletic as Vic but a better shooter and I look for him to get major minutes this year.

“Embarrassment of riches ” Very true statement, especially when you have a guy as talented as Sheehey possibly coming off the bench.

http://www.facebook.com/geoff.chenoweth Geoff Chenoweth

Top scorers will be Zeller, then probably Watford. We’ll be a better team with Big Z getting the most touches.

Evansville Hoosier

nothing against Sheehey, but I don’t think we can hang number 6 unless Cody is our top scorer and rebounder.

philly d

We won’t have A top scorer this season. We will have 6 or 7. Depending on the night.

MillaRed

A guy you really want on your team. And a guy our opposing fans really do not like to play against.

HoosierTrav

Not gonna happen. Cody will lead this team. With them both being most improved, Cody should average 18-20 per contest. There arent enough shots to go around elsewhere. Cody should get the ball nearly every possession.

HoosierTrav

We were blessed with Tom Crean. No doubt that he has an eye for guys like this. Its not just the eye either. Many kids, that are under recruited each year, have the ability to make Will/Vic improvements to their game but dont pan out. Coach Crean has an uncanny ability to get the fire burning with these guys. He’s an elite motivator. I think Hanner Perea, Peter Jurkin, and Jeremy Hollowell are potential pros under CTC. Imagine Hanner, w/ his skill set, making similar strides as Will and Vic. SCARY!

HoosierTrav

If each teams bench could be ranked against each others bench nationally, we’d have two #1 teams in Bloomington.

DarkSouth

“I’m a bad dude when it comes to that stuff. There’s nobody, I think, in the country…”
That’s the attitude of a winner. He’s not the type to get intimidated by a big stage, a 10-point deficit, or the name on the front or back of a jersey. He’s just going to come at you because because he thinks he’s better than you and has a burning desire to prove it.

jacobdetroy

By far the player on this team I believe will be the most surprising and most impressive in terms of where he was on day 1 to where he will be at the end of this season. We will be discussing his potential early departure by the time the season wraps. The flexibility his size offers, athleticism, ability to get to the rim, and chippy leadership will provide the X factor that this championship team needs. This kid is going to be great.

jacobdetroy

He proved your point in the VCU game . . .

jacobdetroy

This is interesting. Depending on defensive match ups and double teams on CZ it will be interesting whom the other go to guy becomes. Within this offense and Yogi’s court vision/passing ability a slasher is going to have the possibility of putting up big points. Also, don’t forget how well CZ passes out of the post – this will create great scoring opportunities for others when the defense collapses on CZ. It’s about positioning, movement, and cuts. This is probably a bit out of reach but you never know. He certainly has the ability.

esapata

He may be coming off the bench, but I believe he will see minutes equivalent to a starter’s. Tough veteran player who has made big shots with the game on the line. He’s a spark plug, makes good decisions with the ball, and leaves it all on the court. We were a better team defensively with him out there too.

esapata

Defense, free throws, maybe even better at 3s? Sounds like he got even quicker based on how Crean talked about him a few weeks ago at the Auditorium.

http://twitter.com/KazKrajewski Casey Krajewski

Hanner could be the most purely athletic player to come to Bloomington… well, ever. If CTC can develop the skills to accompany that raw athleticism, that is a dangerous player that I would hate to play against.

marcusgresham

If you have a face Will is more than happy to get in it.

marcusgresham

Changed the jersey number because “0” is for “Officer”

marcusgresham

I’m going to make a comparison here that will probably get me the e-finger from some with a bevy of “vote down”s, but he’s kind of like Chris Kramer with more talent.

IUMIKE1

Or maybe it stands for the amount of crap, as in zero, that he will take off of anybody. He and VO went to and played against NBA players & upperclassmen in the Indy Pro-Am after just their freshman year. He then wanted to be the one to guard Stephenson of the Pacers and then didn’t back down from him when he tried to intimidate him. Knew when that happened I didn’t just think I liked him I was certain of it.

With Will’s attitude we could probably do a whole thread just on what the possibilities that the “O” might stand for in his mind.